Pagefile.sys is used by Windows when one or multiple applications are using a lot of RAM (memory) on your computer. Windows will move the least used "pages" of memory into the pagefile.sys file, which is located in the root of one of your drives on your computer acting as if it were RAM when it is, in actuality, virtual memory. This process frees up RAM to be used for the applications that are actually needing it at the time.
Sometimes Blue Screens of Death or BSODs can be caused by an irregularity in the pagefile.sys on your computer. In this lab we will look at what you could do if you needed your system to recreate your pagefile.
To access your pagefile in Windows 7 you will follow these steps:
At this point, pagefile.sys will rebuild itself once you restart your pc. You can choose to set your own size or have Windows manage the size of your pagefile itself.
Sometimes Blue Screens of Death or BSODs can be caused by an irregularity in the pagefile.sys on your computer. In this lab we will look at what you could do if you needed your system to recreate your pagefile.
To access your pagefile in Windows 7 you will follow these steps:
- Open the "run box" by pressing the windows key + R. Type "sysdm.cpl" and press enter. This will open up your System Properties window. (alternatively you could open your startbar, right click on Computer and select properties, then click on Advanced System Properties).
- Once you have the System Properties window open you will click the settings under Performance, go to the advanced tab, and click change under Virtual Memory.
- Select the entry for drive C: and select the radio button labelled 'No paging file', then click the Set button.
- Click 'Ok' three times to exit out of the system properties dialogs, then reboot.
- Next, delete pagefile.sys from the root of your c:/ drive. The file is hidden so you will have to allow hidden files to be seen.
- You'll now reenable the paging file by following steps 1-3 above.
- Now reboot your computer.
At this point, pagefile.sys will rebuild itself once you restart your pc. You can choose to set your own size or have Windows manage the size of your pagefile itself.